Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs Ak Bars Kazan Prediction 26 September 2026
🔊 Metallurg are set to welcome a familiar foe to Magnitogorsk-one they still have unfinished business with after last season’s playoffs. Back then, Ak Bars took the semi-final series 4-1, and the opening clash of this new campaign proved just as tough, with Metallurg only edging out a win in the shootout. Now, both sides are neck and neck on 13 points apiece. Metallurg return home riding a three-game winning streak, while Ak Bars have claimed their last two victories only after regulation time.
Ak Bars fall just nine seconds short
📊 The season’s first showdown in Kazan nearly went Ak Bars’ way. The hosts twice took the lead and were ahead 2-1 in the third period after Artyom Galimov found the net, but Dmitry Silantyev leveled the score with just nine seconds left on the clock. Overtime saw no goals, and in the shootout, it was Ruslan Iskhakov who delivered the decisive shot-Metallurg came away with a 3-2 victory. For Magnitogorsk, this win was especially meaningful following their defeat to Kazan in last season’s playoff semifinals.
Head-to-head statistics Metallurg Magnitogorsk - Ak Bars Kazan
Metallurg have hit their stride
After suffering back-to-back defeats, Andrei Razin’s side bounced back with three straight wins, averaging an impressive 4.3 goals per game during that stretch. In Ufa, Metallurg twice built a two-goal cushion and ultimately held on for a 4-3 victory, despite Salavat firing more shots on target (35-27). Nathan Todd netted a brace, while Ruslan Iskhakov redeemed himself after a penalty by setting up Sergei Tolchinsky’s shorthanded goal. Igor Nechaev also found the back of the net. There were issues, though: penalties allowed Salavat to erase a 2-0 deficit, and Magnitogorsk failed to capitalize on 93 seconds of five-on-three power play early in the third period.
The closing stages proved tense once again-Todd scored his second of the night in the 50th minute, but Metallurg’s lead was trimmed to just one with 12 seconds left on the clock. Alexander Smolin faced a heavy workload, turning aside 35 shots from the hosts. Kirill Kadyshev and Danila Palivko returned to the lineup, while Vladimir Tkachev missed out due to illness, according to the club. Now the Steelworkers head home after two high-scoring affairs: eight goals shared with Neftekhimik and seven with Salavat.
Match Results: Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Ak Bars once again rely on late-game heroics
Kazan are facing a different kind of challenge right now-every win comes at a high price. Following their loss to Sochi (2-3), Ak Bars edged past Lada only in overtime (3-2), and against Sibir, they twice trailed on the scoreboard before finally sealing the victory in a shootout (3-2). Grigory Denisenko was the standout performer in Novosibirsk, first capitalizing on the power play and then netting his second of the night with a six-on-five advantage just ninety seconds from the final buzzer. Kirill Semyonov then delivered the only successful attempt in the postgame shootout.
The contest with Sibir was almost dead even statistically. Both sides registered 34 shots on target, faceoffs went 35-32 in Ak Bars’ favor, blocked shots stood at 17-16, and Kazan logged 13:33 of offensive zone time compared to Sibir’s 12:20. Over nine games, the team have collected 13 points and head to Magnitogorsk sitting second in the Eastern Conference. Defensively, the numbers are mixed: their average xGA is 2.37, but over the last six outings, Ak Bars have conceded 2.7 goals per game. With Maxim Arefyev sidelined through injury, Alexander Stolpechenkov steps into the lineup.
Match Results: Ak Bars Kazan
⚡️ Key Players
Sergei Tolchinsky leads Metallurg in scoring with 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) over eight games, averaging 17:56 of ice time per game. Right behind him are Nathan Todd and Ruslan Iskhakov, each with 6 points. Todd has found the net four times and added two assists, converting on 21.1% of his shots. Iskhakov has posted 3 goals and 3 assists, making an impact both on the power play and penalty kill.
Ak Bars have two forwards who have reached the eight-point mark in nine appearances. Grigory Denisenko has tallied 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists), converting 18.2% of his 22 shots, including a brace in his most recent outing. Kirill Semyonov also sits at 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists), boasts a +5 plus-minus rating, and has won 55.2% of his faceoffs. Nikita Lyamkin is close behind with 7 assists, logging an average of 22:43 on the ice per game.
🥅 Goaltenders
Alexander Smolin has carried the workload in net for Metallurg, starting seven games with four wins and a .936 save percentage, along with a 1.99 goals-against average and one shutout to his name. Egor Zavragin has made two appearances, recording one win, a .900 save percentage, and a 2.05 goals-against average.
For Ak Bars, Timur Bilyalov has featured in seven games, stopping 188 of 201 shots for a .935 save percentage and a goals-against average of 1.82. His record stands at three wins, two defeats, and two additional games recorded as OTLs. Maxim Arefyev has played twice with a .908 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average but is currently sidelined due to injury.
⭐️ Editor’s Prediction
The first meeting between these sides produced just four goals in regulation, but that was right at the start of the season. Since then, both teams have played five more games: Metallurg’s matches have averaged 5.4 goals, while Ak Bars’ games have seen an average of 4.8. Metallurg’s scoring form has only improved recently-eight goals were shared in their clash with Neftekhimik, seven with Salavat, and Razin’s team are averaging 4.3 goals per game over their last three outings. Let’s not forget last season’s head-to-heads in Magnitogorsk, where these teams combined for an average of 6.4 goals in regulation. This time, four goals-as we saw in Kazan-may not be enough. My pick: over 4.5 total goals.
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Betting Tips: Metallurg Magnitogorsk - Ak Bars Kazan
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